Manhattan is surrounded by two rivers – Hudson River and East River. In addition, New York City is located on the east coast, very close to the Atlantic Ocean – we have beaches in Queens and Brooklyn, as well as Long Island (Hamptons). Boat tourism is quite explored in the city – much because the Statue of Liberty, one of the city’s landmarks, that sits on a small island. The rivers are busy all year round, but the tours offer increases during the warmer months. A few weeks ago, a friend told me about Manhattan by Sail, a company that offers river cruises on sailing boats. I was very interested and last Friday, we took a cruise!
Manhattan by Sail operates with two boats: Shearwater and Clipper City. Each of these boats makes several tours, at different times, with different proposals. We chose the Sunset Sail, for one obvious reason: the sunset, of course. As the summer days are usually very hot, I think it’s cool to take a cruise of this kind at the end of the day when it’s not that hot- and obviously, enjoy the sunset time … Other sails include brunch, wine-tasting, beer tasting, jazz plus tours at other times such as early afternoon and also at night. You can check out all the tours of Clipper City here and Shearwater here. The difference between the two boats is the size. While the Shearwater accommodates 48 passengers, the Clipper City accommodates up to 134 passengers.
One of the best things about Manhattan by Sail tours is that the boats get as close to the Statue of Liberty as allowed by the U.S. Coast Guard, and they spend a decent amount of time in front of the Statue, providing a nice photo opportunity. Also, as I always say: to see Manhattan, you need to get off Manhattan and the view of the skyline is also beautiful. The only thing is that this boat shakes a lot, so if you get seasick easily, I do not recommend taking the cruise. I did not have a bad time, but my husband was quite sick. Another interesting point is that there are drinks for sale, such as wine and beer – the first round was on the captain, I do not know if it is always so, but we had a beer for free.
It is worth remembering that the Manhattan by Sail is not a guided tour – it’s a cruise to simply have a great time. This means there is no guide, no audio. The experience is super valid for those looking for a different thing to do, something more exclusive. The only thing I missed was some music. The entire tour lasted two hours.
Sunset Sail costs $ 55 per person – but, as I mentioned earlier, there are other cruises, and prices vary. In addition, it is worth noting that the starting point depends on the boat chosen. Shearwater leaves from North Cove Marina on Brookfield Place – South Side. Clipper City leaves from Battery Park, Slip 2.
And last but not least: Manhattan by Sail operates from the last weekend of April until the beginning of October. On the website, you can check the schedule. My tip is to buy your ticket in advance, through the website, a day or two before (because nothing is more frustrating than taking a cruise on a cloudy day, so it’s always good to check the forecast!).
Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!
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